The British National party tonight won a seat on the European parliament for the first time in its history after receiving 120,139 votes in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Andrew Brons took a seat from Labour with almost 10% of the vote in the region, up by 2% on the last election.

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Brons said after the count: "The onslaught against us has been more than against any other party in recent times, but somehow we've overcome it. Despite the lies, despite the money, despite the misrepresentation, we've been able to win through."

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Welcoming Brons' election, Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, said: "We're here to look after our people because no one else is." He added that feelings were particularly strong in Yorkshire. "This is ordinary decent people in Yorkshire kicking back against racism, because racism in this country is now directed overwhelmingly against people who look like me."

He said that immigration had become harmful to Britain, particularly with the spread of radical Islam. "Take Bradford – it isn't immigration that's happening there, it's colonialism," he said.